cultivating wellness with essential oils

Aren’t all essential oils beneficial?

As essential oils become more well-known in western approaches to wellness, you may see an increase of articles and blogs warning us about the dangers of aromatherapy. So often, these sweeping statements lump all essential oils into a single category. In reality, there is a significant range in the quality and purity of essential oils, and we need to acknowledge that not all brands of oils are created equal.

Many companies mix their oils with synthetic ingredients but brand the product as “pure” or “therapeutic.” For example, Lavender is often sold using a hybrid lavandin, which is mixed with the synthetic linalyl acetate to improve the fragrance. It’s cheaper, and most consumers don’t know the difference. Although quality lavender essential oil has an incredible ability to support skin health and healing, synthetic lavender could actually be more harmful than helpful to the skin. It’s been demonstrated that although 100% pure therapeutic grade lavender oil can support skin health, synthetic forms of lavender oils found in many store-bought mixtures can actually worsen preexisting skin conditions.

Synthetic oils can be especially harmful if they are applied in a manner that calls for therapeutic grade essential oils. Know the company, and know how they make oils. (I am a big fan of Young Living because of their transparency with processing the oils.)

So how do you know if the oils you are buying are actually 100% pure therapeutic-grade products? Do your research. Look into the company and spot industry jargon. For example, a company may say their oils are “ethically sourced.” This actually means that the company buys their oils from a third-party supplier, and they are only responsible for bottling and selling the product ethically. These oils are likely made through a distillation process using a variety of synthetic substances. If you want to investigate further, then look into the ethics and processes of the supplier. At that point in your research, you may only find murky details and not get the full picture. On the other hand, Young Living is responsible for the entire oil production process from start to finish. Tracing the supply chain should be simple, and the findings should be reassuring.

A less trustworthy company may also warn against ingesting the oils on the product label. This is a big red flag that the oils could have synthetic ingredients. Essential oils that are 100% pure therapeutic grade are completely plant-based, so it’s safe to ingest them. As in all things, have an open conversation about your wellness with your health care provider, do your research, and learn how to best use essential oils for your own family—and make sure that you can trust those oils you’re using.

Post navigation

2 thoughts on “Aren’t all essential oils beneficial?”

[…] With so many limitations on what a pregnant woman can use to feel and stay well, essential oils can be a fantastic avenue to wellness. You certainly need to be educated and know which oils are safe to use and how to use them-which is why you are probably here! Welcome! First of all, I’m very picky about the quality of the oils I use. Young Living has a rigorous standard called Seed to Seal ensuring that their essential oils are 100% pure therapeutic grade. I would not be using them on my body or my baby otherwise. Why? Because I want to know that the essential oils I’m using are not adulterated with other synthetic ingredients. I have learned that not all essential oils are created equal. […]

[…] You certainly need to be educated and know which oils are safe to use and how to use them-which is why you are probably here! Welcome! First of all, I’m very picky about the quality of the oils I use. Young Living has a rigorous standard called Seed to Seal ensuring that their essential oils are 100% pure therapeutic grade. I would not be using them on my body or my baby otherwise. Why? Because I want to know that the essential oils I’m using are not adulterated with other synthetic ingredients. I have learned that not all essential oils are created equal. […]

Recent Posts

DISCLAIMER: Please note that Mama Tea Tree is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice. Mama Tea Tree readers should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider, specific tests, physicians, procedures, opinions, or other qualified medical information. You should consult with any aromatherapist about essential oil usage and always inform your primary care physician what you are using as they may not be conducive with his/her prescribed therapy and medications. Information and statements regarding our products have not been evaluated by the FDA.